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Category Archives: My Creative Pieces
Collagraph: cutting and arranging
Several years ago I printed a series called ‘Other Worlds’ and I’ve now repurposed one of the original collagraph plates. My favourite print from the plate looked like this: I started by cutting the plate into pieces and sealing the … Continue reading
Paper from pulped fibres
A couple of weeks ago I posted about making paper pulp from a variety of materials including denim and hessian. After the workshop there was plenty left for me to use, so I made some paper from the hessian. It’s … Continue reading
Pulping fibres
Last week three of us met at Primrose Park to pulp a variety of fibres to be used to create paper at an upcoming workshop we’re teaching. As there will be several participants it called for a more industrial approach … Continue reading
Abstracting a design
This week I’ve been building resources in my sketchbook. An A5 pencil sketch of TV remote controls sitting on my cutting mat was followed by a closer view of a specific area in Sharpie pen. I picked these as my … Continue reading
Hard cover Coptic Stitch book
I’ve made books using Coptic Stitch in the past but yesterday I explored a method new to me. Previously I’ve worked individual threads up through the text block. So eight holes along the spine equates to 8 separate threads and … Continue reading
Posted in My books & journals, My Creative Pieces
Tagged Book-making, Coptic Stitch book
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Exploring Screen-printing
Last week I attended a 4 day screen-printing course with tutor Julie Ryder. Not only is she a very good practitioner, extremely well versed in the technicalities of the craft, but is also an excellent designer and tutor. Not all … Continue reading
Print swap
At the end of the year our printmaking group always do a swap and make books using a print from each member. It’s a great way to share and have a record of everyone, as some don’t continue the following … Continue reading
Posted in General fun pursuits, My prints
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Kozo: Fibre to Paper
I’ve started transforming some of my kozo fibre (general term for the inner bark of mulberry trees) into sheets of paper. I cut some up and left other bits as long strands. I purchased this as per the photo below … Continue reading
Brain Clutter: Plate 1
New project I’ve had a lot going on recently and have felt a little overloaded with thoughts, conflicts and noise – all internally. My new project, being created as an extension of my recent collagraphs, aims to document some of … Continue reading
Collagraph: Man-made – progress
I first showed this print plate in October where I discovered the issue of using Shellac that had been made for a while and then shaken to remix. Tiny particles had hardened and subsequently transferred to the plate and printed … Continue reading
Collagraph: Lines & Boxes
I’m enjoying exploring new collagraph materials and these 15cm square bases give enough space to quickly create small unified pieces. Stage 1 For this plate I started with varnished mountboard which I lightly sanded to get a roughened surface. Lines … Continue reading
Collagraph: continuing Hexagons
I really enjoyed making this plate and the resulting prints I showed in an earlier blog, so I’ve continued with some colour experimentation. I’ve moved from the warmer sepia, red and orange/yellow hues into a much cooler set of colours; … Continue reading
Collagraph: Hexagons
My new collagraph comes as a result of further experimentation leading from my ‘Man-made’ project in October. The strata has been constructed using a variety of media including, from left to right, Akua carborundum gel, several layers of torn handmade … Continue reading
Collagraph: Man-made
Using minimal materials; essentially mountboard, a couple of pieces of lightweight paper and some adhesive foil, I built a low-relief multi-layered collagraph plate. I cut into a few areas, removing the mountboard surface, thereby encouraging the ink to ‘grab’ the … Continue reading
Blizzard structures
Hedi Kyle is the coauthor, with her daughter, Ulla Warchol, of The Art of the Fold, a step-by-step guide to making a wide range of original structures. Over the past 3 weeks I’ve been exploring 6 of her designs based … Continue reading
Project: Treads notebook
From time to time I use my prints as covers for notebooks. Today I used my hand-coloured print from my ongoing Treads project. Might as well use it rather than shoving it in a drawer for ever. It’s a simple … Continue reading
Posted in My books & journals, My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Acid etching, Book-making
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Project: Treads
Car and truck tires seem to have been in my peripheral vision lately so I drew a few and collaged them together to form a rectangular design. Being such a fan of geometric and linear imagery I was pleased with … Continue reading
Banksia Book – Constructed
Over recent months I’ve documented my progress in printing some Banksia themed solar plates I was given late last year. Some of them are quite worn, or possibly not etched deeply enough to start with, but they have been a … Continue reading
Project: Information Highway
Take two products … Last year I invested in several new stencils. In theory I could have cut some of them myself but the strain on my hands and possible mistakes when doing this wasn’t worth it. So the question … Continue reading
Workshop: Eco-printing with Wendy Joyce
Anyone who follows my site will know I’ve done a bit of eco-printing/dyeing over the years, but I’ve never tried it using a steaming method. Last week I was introduced to this new technique by eco-printer Wendy Joyce in her … Continue reading
Exploration: Journey
I’m currently part of an on-line creative exploration course. It’s nothing onerous, just something to stimulate ideas and create some random drawings without too much thought. The word for the day was ‘Journey’ and I jotted down a few things … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces
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Coptic stitch sketchbook
Last week I did a short online Coptic stitch tutorial. I’ve only done this stitching twice before and neither time has the process really stuck in my mind. However, this tutorial was superb and with the benefit of videos which … Continue reading
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Banksia solar plates: further prints
I’ve now completed printing the remaining solar plates featuring Banksia designs that I was given. These are currently being dried ready to be formed into a book showcasing the best of the plates. Here are a few more of the … Continue reading
Gel plate collagraph printing
I recently read an article describing the technique of pressing collagraph plates into an inked gelli plate surface, followed by pulling the print from the gelli plate – not the collagraph. In essence, a transfer print. My normal printing routine … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Gelli plate
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Banksia solar plates: new prints
Since my last post regarding the etched solar plates I was recently given I’ve been experimenting with different papers and colourways to see what effects I can get. The plates are several years old and some of the etching isn’t … Continue reading
Banksia Book – Part 1
I recently wrote about some etched solar plates I’ve been given, which I’ve started printing. My aim is to create a book showcasing the prints to give to the friend who kindly donated the plates. My criteria are as follows: … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My books & journals, My Creative Pieces, My prints
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2021 Artists’ Book Award Exhibition
Friday, 19 February 2021 – 10:00am to Sunday, 28 March 2021 – 4:00pm In partnership with Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Northern Beaches Council Libraries hold an Artists’ Book Award attracting entries from around the world. From the exhibited selection … Continue reading
Posted in Exhibitions & Artists, My books & journals, My Creative Pieces
Tagged Book-making
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Abstract Banksia solar plates
Late last year a friend gave me 2 etched solar plates depicting collages of Banksias taken from her own photos. I printed these for her (see post here) and she used them as book covers for a gift. Since then … Continue reading
2020 12 29 Image of the week
This monoprint, by my friend Judy Howe, is part of the Hazelhurst Gallery & Arts Centre 20 year anniversary exhibition. I’ve always enjoyed her work; her reduced yet vibrant colour palettes create life in each of her original monoprints. Judy … Continue reading
Working with selected colours
The designs I choose from all those I’ll be producing over the coming weeks will be scanned into the computer and used to generate a cohesive whole. I normally create my designs and work up the layers directly from paint … Continue reading
Creating a Colour Selector chart
I’ve designed a system of recording both the variety of paints & drawing materials I own and the items & colours I intend to use for each project I work on. I own quite a range of media including oil-based … Continue reading
A gift of solar plates
Last weekend a friend gave me 2 etched solar plates. The designs are from her own photographs, collaged and transferred to acetate and then to the print plates. She asked if I could print the images for her to use … Continue reading
Posted in My Creative Pieces, My prints
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Working in only 2 colours
I recently taught a colour & composition workshop where we concentrated on the wonderful world of colour choices; tones, tints, likes, dislikes and colour matching. Trying to introduce the participants to a new way of considering abstraction in their work … Continue reading
Celebrating 20 years of art and culture
I am delighted to have been invited to take part in the current Hazelhurst Gallery & Arts Centre exhibition. To celebrate 20 years of Hazelhurst more than 350 artists from southern Sydney were invited to take part in a massive … Continue reading
Posted in Exhibitions & Artists, My Creative Pieces, My prints
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Finally back to teaching
After a very long time in full- and semi-lockdown I am delighted to have been engaged to teach a weekend workshop at Hazelhurst Gallery & Arts Centre. Entitled ‘Book Making for Artists‘ this 2 day weekend event will introduce participants … Continue reading
Posted in My books & journals, My Creative Pieces, Workshops & Classes
Tagged Book-making
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Linocut print: Lamb’s Tongue weed
After a couple of trial runs and a bit more carving I completed a very successful print. Good outcome with solid ink coverage and I’m pleased that my instinct led me to translate some aspects of the design differently than … Continue reading
Linocut: Lamb’s Tongue weed
This year, whilst in covid lockdown, I’ve spent a lot of time walking in bushland both observing and collecting flora, mainly weeds. A few weeks ago I started photographing Lamb’s Tongue weeds (Plantago lanceolata). They have a robust cylindrical shaped … Continue reading
More gelli printing
This week I was introduced to another way of gelli printing, one where texture can be created whilst still being able to produce quite exacting patterns. In September I blogged about a similar, but slightly different method, and gave the … Continue reading
New gelli plate printing
Over the last 12 months I’ve done quite a bit of gelli plate printing using a few different methods; random rolling of paints, applying stencils, mark making with objects and the like. All have been done with either one or … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces, My prints
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TactualTextiles 